Current:Home > NewsOklahoma public schools leader orders schools to incorporate Bible instruction -ThriveEdge Finance
Oklahoma public schools leader orders schools to incorporate Bible instruction
View
Date:2025-04-12 21:39:57
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s top education official ordered public schools Thursday to incorporate the Bible into lessons for grades 5 through 12, the latest effort by conservatives to incorporate religion into classrooms.
The directive sent Thursday to superintendents across the state by Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters says adherence to the mandate is compulsory and “immediate and strict compliance is expected.”
“The Bible is an indispensable historical and cultural touchstone,” Walters said in a statement. “Without basic knowledge of it, Oklahoma students are unable to properly contextualize the foundation of our nation which is why Oklahoma educational standards provide for its instruction.”
The directive is the latest effort by conservative-led states to target public schools: Louisiana required them to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while others are under pressure to teach the Bible and ban books and lessons about race, sexual orientation and gender identity. Earlier this week the Oklahoma Supreme Court blocked an attempt by the state to have the first publicly funded religious charter school in the country.
A former public school teacher who was elected to his post in 2022, Walters ran on a platform of fighting “woke ideology,” banning books from school libraries and getting rid of “radical leftists” who he claims are indoctrinating children in classrooms.
He has clashed with leaders in both parties for his focus on culture-war issues including transgender rights and banning books, and in January he faced criticism for appointing a right-wing social media influencer from New York to a state library committee.
Walters’ directive immediately came under fire from civil rights groups and supporters of the separation of church and state.
“Public schools are not Sunday schools,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, in a statement. “This is textbook Christian Nationalism: Walters is abusing the power of his public office to impose his religious beliefs on everyone else’s children. Not on our watch.”
veryGood! (9391)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Warming Trends: Chilling in a Heat Wave, Healthy Food Should Eat Healthy Too, Breeding Delays for Wild Dogs, and Three Days of Climate Change in Song
- California becomes the first state to adopt emission rules for trains
- Ezra Miller Breaks Silence After Egregious Protective Order Is Lifted
- Small twin
- House Republicans hope their debt limit bill will get Biden to the negotiating table
- BMW warns that older models are too dangerous to drive due to airbag recall
- Bud Light sales dip after trans promotion, but such boycotts are often short-lived
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Inside Hilarie Burton and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Incredibly Private Marriage
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- BaubleBar 4th of July Sale: These $10 Deals Are Red, White and Cute
- EPA Opens Civil Rights Investigation Into Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley’
- Tucker Carlson ousted at Fox News following network's $787 million settlement
- California DMV apologizes for license plate that some say mocks Oct. 7 attack on Israel
- Why Sarah Jessica Parker Was Upset Over Kim Cattrall's AJLT Cameo News Leak
- Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian Is Officially Hitting the Road as a Barker
- When your boss is an algorithm
Recommendation
How to watch new prequel series 'Dexter: Original Sin': Premiere date, cast, streaming
Madewell’s Big Summer Sale: Get 60% Off Dresses, Tops, Heels, Skirts & More
Natural Gas Samples Taken from Boston-Area Homes Contained Numerous Toxic Compounds, a New Harvard Study Finds
The US May Have Scored a Climate Victory in Congress, but It Will Be in the Hot Seat With Other Major Emitters at UN Climate Talks
Who's hosting 'Saturday Night Live' tonight? Musical guest, how to watch Dec. 14 episode
Ecuador’s High Court Rules That Wild Animals Have Legal Rights
Would you live next to co-workers for the right price? This company is betting yes
Our final thoughts on the influencer industry